The African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia are
impressive. The sort of investment in infrastructure alone leaves one agape –
the main building itself is one of the tallest skyscrapers in all of Addis. Yet
the financial force behind these investments is yet another testimony to the
reliance on foreign donors that is endemic to the continent. Much of the funds
for the more modern buildings and resources did not come from member states
rather it is countries like China, and through co-operations with EU states
that have supplied these funds.
For too long the bureaucratic processes at the AU have been
undermined by the political aspects of dealing with situations deemed as
crisis. Because of the silence of the behind the scenes negotiations that are admittedly
slow, we are prone to accusing the AU of not intervening in a timely fashion in
security crisis situations such as the conflicts in Mali, South Sudan, the
Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I have to admit
that even I have fallen prey to the perception that the AU not only drags its
feet in responding to such situations but indeed does not actually act until a
western nation or the United Nation first intervenes.
But this is not the case; indeed in almost all of the
current conflict situations, the AU had already initiated peace negotiations
and had begun considering what measures it can undertake to stem the
devastation being experienced by the peoples of these nations. Unfortunately,
while the people are dying the African leaders are busy politicking and the
more decisive western nations step in.
The problem remains the same when it comes to funding the AU
and its member states. The immediate former chairperson of the AU commission, Nkosazana
Dlamini-Zuma intimated in her recent address to the general assembly that
“African states are rich but African people are poor.”
This is true – we are a continent of vast resources and
riches, capable of not only providing more than adequately for our people but
also capable of funding our own activities and initiatives. Yet African nations
routinely find themselves facing west when looking for funds from “what we
euphemistically call partnerships.”
Even as we grapple, 50 years on, with what we define as the
sovereignty of African states, it is no small irony that we are not financially
sovereign despite having so much natural wealth and indeed no shortage of
African billionaires. It is a challenge to our sensibilities that not just the
governments seem to be unable to sustain themselves but the civil society as
well.
Donald Deya, C.E.O of Pan African Lawyers Union put it most
succinctly. “The hypocrisy is comical; the African governments accuse the civil
society of having 60% foreign donor funding while having 60% of their
governments budgets coming from foreign funds.”
As we marked the first 50 years of the African Union, we
acknowledged that certain aspects of the original ideals behind the formation
of the African Union have indeed been met. 50 years ago, we wanted to end
colonialism on the continent and 50 years later we have achieved that.
Still, the fact that even now we as a continent, in our
different capacities as government and civilians are still turning for
financial support to the west, is a most dampening truth. Why is it, that we
still are unable to sustainably fund our own activities in our various sectors?
One suggestion put forth by members of the civil society in
a discussion forum on the shrinking space for civil society organizations
(CSOs) is that perhaps a redirection of funding for certain initiatives can
assist. Take for example The Mo Ibrahim Prize for
Achievement in African Leadership, an award by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation to
African heads of state or government who “deliver security, health, education
and economic development to their constituents, and who democratically transfer
power to their successor.” (Wikipedia)
This prize includes a 5 million USD initial payment and
200,000 USD each year for life and is believed to be the world’s largest,
exceeding the 1.3 million USD Nobel peace prize. Yet since its inception only 3
African heads of state have received this award and none since 2011.
Firstly, this lack of awardees is telling of the dearth in
good governance among Heads of State on the continent. Secondly, most African
heads of state themselves are extremely wealthy; it’s really easy for them not
to find the award any sort of incentive to leave power anyway!
The suggestion then is that the Mo Ibrahim foundation should
re-direct the prize funds to the civil society or to the African Union and
support endeavors by these institutions to promote peace and security, justice,
human rights and economic and cultural development.
As a continent, we cannot look forward to the future while
still expecting foreign funds to sustain us and yet at the same time
impetuously claiming that we are sovereign and thus free from colonialism. It
is a hypocritical stance and one that is telling of our own lack of commitment
to Africa and its people. It is certainly up to us to seek an economic and
financially viable and sustainable solution to this; and to commit ourselves to
funding our own governments and the African Union so that we can stabilize.
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